by Ben Herrold
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Saturday was a feel-good day for the Missouri Tigers. A week after a brutal home loss to Kentucky, Missouri put on a show, rolling to a 38-17 win at Florida, which was ranked No. 13 in the AP poll.
It was a big day in the Swamp, with third-year Tiger coach Barry Odom and quarterback Drew Lock, in his fourth year as a starter, both notching their first win over a ranked team.
Missouri (5-4, 1-4 in SEC play) dominated after a slow start, leading 21-3 in the second quarter and 35-10 in the third on the way to the 21-point win.
Missouri outgained Florida (6-3, 4-3 in SEC) 471 yards to 323. After building discussion about Lock’s struggles against good teams, he unfurled a magnificent performance, completing 24 of 32 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
The first of those touchdown passes was to Albert Okwuegbunam, or simply Albert O if you’d rather, the big tight end with a nose for the end zone.
The second was a 41-yard strike to Kam Scott, who succumbed to the temptation faced by SEC players in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for decades, doing a mock version of the Gator chomp arm gesture after scoring.
The third was maybe sweetest of all, to senior Emanuel Hall, who had been out with an injury since the Georgia game in September. Hall is Lock’s top target, and the offense struggled in his absence. It was big to have him back, and to see him playing well.
In addition to the air attack, Damarea Crockett ran for 114 yards, his second 100-yard game of the season.
The Tiger defense stymied the Gators most of the day, even causing Florida coach Dan Mullen to try his backup quarterback in the second half.
This was an encouraging win for the Tigers, showing they can beat a good team, but upping the ante by doing it with seeming ease and on the road. It also sets the Tigers up for another strong finish to the season, with the three remaining games coming against teams in the bottom half of the SEC standings: Vanderbilt, at Tennessee and Arkansas.
The Tigers host Vanderbilt on Saturday (11 a.m. on SEC Network). This will be one for the diehards, as it’s not a big-name opponent, it’s a morning kickoff, and it’s going to be chilly. This is November football. This is a chili-at-the-tailgate kind of game.
Despite the Commodores’ record (4-5, 1-4 in SEC), I wouldn’t say beating Vanderbilt is easy, and not just because Derek Mason tops many lists of college football coaches you’d least like to face in a fight. His teams play tough, sound defense.
On the other side of the ball, senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur is experienced and can make some plays.
That said, this is a game Missouri should win, especially if the Tigers can come anywhere close to their level of play against Florida. A win would make the Tigers bowl eligible, another step forward under Odom.